Talking about the relative parity in college basketball these days, Florida Gulf Coast University men's coach Joe Dooley discussed last week the danger of facing a lesser team who gets red-hot from outside.

Heading into Monday night's Atlantic Sun tournament quarterfinal foe, eighth-seeded USC Upstate, Dooley said his biggest concern was the Spartans -- who came in fourth nationally with about 10 3-point makes per game -- going trey crazy in Alico Arena.

With 13:14 left to play, USC Upstate had swished nine 3-pointers and trailed top-seeded regular-season champ FGCU just 58-54 in a game that was looking like Dooley's worst nightmare.

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After a couple snags, the Eagles' defense seems to be back on track. A quick look at that during Monday night's ASUN quarterfinal matchup vs. USC Upstate. (Video by Dana Caldwell/Naples Daily News)
By Dana Caldwell

But after the last of those, the third by Mike Cunningham, the Spartans junior was called for a technical after making the 3-point sign to an FGCU fan with whom he had had a verbal altercation of sorts moments earlier. Infuriated USC Upstate coach Kyle Perry also got a technical.

FGCU junior guard Dinero Mercurius made all four free throws and, finally juiced, the Eagles flew to a 96-76 win in front of 2,832 in Alico Arena.

The Eagles advanced to face North Florida in a Thursday night semifinal. Fifth-seeded UNF (14-18), also a 3-point heavy team, knocked off fourth-seeded New Jersey Institute of Technology, 80-76, on Monday night. FGCU swept UNF in the regular season, including a 103-70 home win on Oct. 29.

"It definitely brought the intensity up," said fourth-year FGCU starting guard Christian Terrell, who like Dooley gave the fans an assist. "(The fans) were just really into it. They were great all game, really, but after that they really picked it up."

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Florida Gulf Coast University guard Dolan Mahoney whips his towel in the air as he cheers during the Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament quarterfinal against USC Upstate at Alico Arena on Monday.(Photo: Katie Klann/Naples Daily News)

Perry said he felt good about the way the game was playing out and that he "probably made a mistake by getting a technical. I just didn't like what the guy said to me. I felt like it was a ridiculous thing he said." Perry said he was told by an official that Cunningham had also said something to the fan after that trey make, but he disputed the possibility of that.

"I felt I hurt our kids a little bit there," Perry said. "We were playing well up to that point. ... But Mike should not have been talking to the fans. We didn't hold our composure at that point in time and it ignited them a little bit."

But Cunningham -- who had a game-high 28 points -- made two more 3s and the Spartans were within 73-65.

Dolan Mahoney, Florida Gulf Coast University guard, whips his towel in the air as he cheers during the Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament quarterfinal against USC Upstate at Alico Arena on Monday, February 26, 2018.
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Players and fans stand for the National Anthem during the Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament quarterfinal against USC Upstate at Alico Arena on Monday, February 26, 2018.
Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Zach Johnson, Florida Gulf Coast University guard, goes up for a three point shot during the Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament quarterfinal against USC Upstate at Alico Arena on Monday, February 26, 2018.
Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Mike Cunningham, USC Upstate guard, looks to the referee as he points to a fan making noise in the stands during the Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament quarterfinal against USC Upstate at Alico Arena on Monday, February 26, 2018.
Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

A fan gets the other fans around him to cheer during the Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament quarterfinal against USC Upstate at Alico Arena on Monday, February 26, 2018.
Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

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"Zach was unbelievable," said Dooley, who's in his fifth FGCU season. "That's about as good a performance as I've seen since we've been here. He got on a roll. Was efficient. Made the right plays. Even when he was on a roll, he passed the ball when he was supposed to. He was great defensively."

Johnson smiled and shrugged.

"In games like this, you just want to make sure you're making the right plays, making the right decisions, playing the right way," Johnson said. "Luckily for me I was hitting a couple of shots and trying to get teammates open and make the right plays."

Terrell had 18 points as did starting senior center Antravious Simmons. Terrell also had a game-high and career-high eight assists.

"CT made some timely passes and shots, and I thought Trey gave us a real good post presence," Dooley said.

FGCU senior guard Brandon Goodwin, the ASUN Player of the Year, had nine points as did Mercurius, who drew a start Monday night.

FGCU shot 59.7 percent from the field -- 66.7 in the second half when the Eagles really attacked the rim -- which was the best ever for an ASUN tournament game. The Eagles tied a season-low with four turnovers. They made 11 3-pointers -- tying an ASUN tourney high -- on just 20 attempts for a percentage of 55. The 96 points the Eagles scored were the most ever in an ASUN tournament game.

The Eagles led just 39-36 at the half before blitzing the Spartans, 57-40, in the second 20 minutes. The Eagles were again without 6-foot-6 sophomore swingman Christian Carlyle, a tough matchup problem for mid-major foes and FGCU's second-best perimeter defender. Carlyle missed the five previous games with an ankle injury. He could've played Monday night if absolutely necessary.

"Once we got our defensive balance going a little bit better, we did a good job and sort of wore them down there at the end," Dooley said.